Page 128 of All Wrapped Up
‘I thought we were supposed to kiss when everyone had gathered for the procession?’ he said, reminding me of our original plan.
‘And so we shall.’ I carried on smiling. ‘This was just a bonus that I couldn’t resist cashing in.’
‘Fine by me,’ he said, giving me a squeeze and then laughing as he looked over my shoulder.
‘What?’
‘I just spotted Joanne standing outside the café, with her mouth open so wide she could have easily caught a dozen flies in one gulp,’ he told me.
‘Well, that was a bit of luck. What’s she doing now?’ I asked, reluctantly untangling myself from his embrace so I could look, too. ‘Oh,’ I said. ‘She’s gone.’
‘She’s high tailed it back inside again,’ he laughed.
‘In that case,’ I said, holding out my hand, ‘let’s go over and find out how far she’s already spread the word.’
Not far was the answer, because she was engaged in a mild argument with Jason who was then keenly telling everyone who would listen that he had already seen mine and Ash’s getting together coming and so it wasn’t a surprise at all.
‘Well, it was to me,’ Joanne pouted and then realised we were standing behind her.
‘Absolutely no matchmaking required,’ I told her. ‘And Jason is telling the truth. He’d worked out that Ash had feelings for me, ages ago.’
‘Thank you,’ Jason nodded. ‘See,’ he then added smugly, for Joanne’s benefit.
‘Close your mouth,’ Jemma then told her. ‘You’re putting customers off their cakes. Congratulations, you two. I’m so happy for you.’
‘As am I,’ said Jason, as he toasted us with his coffee cup.
‘Me too,’ said Joanne. ‘Though I could have got you together a whole lot quicker than this.’
It obviously hadn’t occurred to her that Ash and I had got together when we were meant to or that her former interference could have put a spanner in the works and prevented it ever happening at all.
‘Were my eyes deceiving me?’ Lizzie then burst in, sending the café bell madly clanging as she looked between us. ‘Or did I really just see you two kissing in the square?’
‘You did,’ I was delighted to be able to tell her as Ash held up our joined hands.
I had always been quite shy about public shows of affection, but our kiss had got the job done and been thoroughly wonderful to boot.
‘Oh, that’s amazing!’ Lizzie grinned and clapped. ‘I’m so happy for you both.’
‘As are we,’ said Ash, as he gave me another quick kiss.
‘Yay!’ Lizzie cheered again. ‘Now I have to go, otherwise I’ll have no customers left.’
‘And we should go, too,’ said Ash, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. ‘There’s still lots for us to do.’
There wasn’t, but I appreciated him pulling us out of the limelight. We could hear the level of chatter rising even before we’d closed the café door.
‘Mission accomplished!’ he declared, kissing the back of my hand. ‘Now, how about some lunch?’
‘You can’t be hungry already!’ I laughed.
‘In case you’ve forgotten, I had a full list of chores to complete before we came out.’
‘That’s true,’ I relented, thinking of the long list of tasks I’d jokingly set him but he’d completed nonetheless. ‘Pub then? My treat.’
The novelty of Ash and I being together soon wore off and we were able to enjoy the Halloween procession in town and award more prizes, this time for the best costumes, without too much scrutiny.
The turnout was even better than I could have hoped for and, as a result of helping Lizzie in the gallery, I recognised a few of the lanterns bobbing along the pavements and around the square and even some of the faces behind the scary masks and gaudy make-up.
